Antibiotics Threaten Wildlife: Circulating Quinolone Residues and Disease in Avian Scavengers

Lemus, Jesús Á.; Blanco, Guillermo; Grande, Javier; Arroyo, Bernardo; García-Montijano, Marino; Martínez, Félix

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001444

Cited by 62 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The limits of quantification, percentage recoveries and inter-and intra-assay reproducibility were adequate (see Lemus et al 2008).…”

Section: (B) Antibiotic Determinationmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Cellular and humoral immunodepression in vultures feeding upon medicated livestock carrion

Lemus

Blanco

2009

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Veterinary pharmaceuticals contained in dead livestock may be ingested by avian scavengers and negatively affect their health and consequently their population dynamics and conservation. We evaluated the potential role of antibiotics as immunodepressors using multiple parameters measuring the condition of the cellular and humoral immune system in griffon (Gyps fulvus), cinereous (Aegypius monachus) and Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus). We confirmed the presence of circulating antimicrobial residues, especially quinolones, in nestlings of the three vulture species breeding in central Spain. Individuals ingesting antibiotics showed clearly depressed cellular and humoral immune systems compared with nestlings from the control areas, which did not ingest antibiotics. Within central Spain, we found that individuals with circulating antibiotics showed depressed cellular (especially CD4 C and CD8 C T-lymphocyte subsets) and humoral (especially acellular APV complement and IL8-like) immune systems compared with nestlings without circulating antibiotics. This suggests that ingestion of antibiotics together with food may depress the immune system of developing nestlings, temporarily reducing their resistance to opportunistic pathogens, which require experimental confirmation. Medicated livestock carrion should be considered inadequate food for vultures due to their detrimental consequences on health derived from the ingestion and potential effects of the veterinary drugs contained in them and for this reason rejected as a management tool in conservation programmes.

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“…The limits of quantification, percentage recoveries and inter-and intra-assay reproducibility were adequate (see Lemus et al 2008).…”

Section: (B) Antibiotic Determinationmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…A. Lemus & G. Blanco 2311 R e t r a c t e d (Carrete et al 2006;Lemus et al 2008) but also in a reduction in the number of breeding pairs ( J. A.…”

Section: R E T R a C T E Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cellular and humoral immunodepression in vultures feeding upon medicated livestock carrion

Lemus

Blanco

2009

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…In the end, this scenario would be more similar to those in which the foraging strategies of avian scavengers evolved. Moreover, there would be fewer incidences of other negative factors threatening the populations of carrion eaters depending on intensive livestock such as the ingestion of veterinary drugs and pathogen transmission (Blanco et al 2007;Lemus et al 2008). Also, a higher availability of carcasses would reduce the probability of ingestion of poisoned preys (Margalida et al 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary shifts in two vultures after the demise of supplementary feeding stations: consequences of the EU sanitary legislation

2010

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Among vertebrates, specialization in scavenging has appeared only in "true" Gyps vultures, which usually base their diet almost exclusively on carcasses of medium and large-sized mammals, whereas all other scavengers rely on broader ranges of prey. The availability of food for scavengers in Western Europe has not been limited during recent decades permitting the existence and growth of huge vulture populations. From 2000 onwards, however, EU sanitary legislation has progressively limited the abandonment of dead animals in the field resulting in a sudden reduction of food availability with unknown ecological and conservation consequences. Here, we examine the dietary response of a tandem of carrion eaters, the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) and the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), showing different degrees of dietary specialization. Our results showed that after the reduction in numbers of supplementary feeding stations (vulture restaurants) the niche breadth of the griffon vulture has broadened and now includes significant amounts of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and garbage. The diet of the Egyptian vulture, on the contrary, did not vary substantially. The diet overlap showed patterns probably conditioned by interspecific competition and the progressive exploitation of unpredictable carcasses. On a short-term scale, consequences for smaller scavengers could be negative due to the monopolization of resources by the dominant and much more abundant griffon vulture, however in the long-term all guild species would benefit from the exploitation of unpredictable carcasses, which could enhance the possibilities of coexistence.

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“…Several studies [109][110][111], now all retracted from publication, have suggested the occurrence of widespread exposure of vultures to NSAIDs (e.g., flunixin and aspirin) antimicrobials (e.g., enrofloxacin) at carcass dumps/feeding stations in Spain.…”

Section: The Situation In the European Unionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Merging Wildlife and Environmental Monitoring Approaches with Forensic Principles: Application of Unconventional and Non-Invasive Sampling in Eco- Pharmacovigilance

Richards¹

2014

J Forensic Res

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Pharmaceutical residues in the environment have the potential to harm wildlife. A population's fragility or an animal's secretive nature may preclude capture and the use of invasive/destructive sampling techniques that are typically used in a risk assessment. Conventionally favoured matrices gathered opportunistically from carcasses have a finite lifespan, thereby limiting the detection window. This multidisciplinary paper aims to promote the use of non-invasive approaches and optimize use of even the most degraded carcasses. We highlight a selection of promising alternative, unconventional and underutilized sample types that could be applied in environmental monitoring efforts and wildlife forensic investigations. With a focus on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), now under increasing scrutiny in the freshwater and terrestrial environment, we first illustrate current sampling practices and gaps in knowledge by summarizing exposure of: 1) aquatic organisms to urban effluent discharged into waterways, and, 2) scavenging species to veterinary residues in livestock and other carrion. We then consider the merits and limitations of a range of alternative environmentally robust sample options that offer a broader detection interval for NSAIDs, with emphasis on hair, wool and feathers. The viability of eyes/ocular material, bone matter, fecal matter, injection sites, ingesta/pellets and scavenging/coprophagous insects are also discussed.

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Antibiotics Threaten Wildlife: Circulating Quinolone Residues and Disease in Avian Scavengers

Cited by 62 publications

References 27 publications

Cellular and humoral immunodepression in vultures feeding upon medicated livestock carrion

Cellular and humoral immunodepression in vultures feeding upon medicated livestock carrion

Dietary shifts in two vultures after the demise of supplementary feeding stations: consequences of the EU sanitary legislation

Merging Wildlife and Environmental Monitoring Approaches with Forensic Principles: Application of Unconventional and Non-Invasive Sampling in Eco- Pharmacovigilance

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